NASCAR’s recent update introducing 750 horsepower at Phoenix Raceway made a notable impact during the 2026 race weekend, according to Mike Forde, vice president of racing communications. The brighter horsepower update combined with the same tire used last season altered tire performance, creating new strategic opportunities on the 1-mile oval.
Forde explained that although the overall lap speeds remained largely unchanged, “the high speeds are higher,” which accelerated tire degradation throughout the race. He emphasized this effect drove more diverse pit strategies and increased on-track action, saying,
“It’ll just eat up the tire much more, which leads to varying strategies and comers and goers and passing. And that’s exactly what we were hoping to happen. And that’s what a lot of the drivers were predicting to happen.”
Minimal Engine Modifications Yield Maximum Impact
Teams mostly used sealed engines from the previous season but incorporated a small mechanical change: a tapered spacer with slightly larger holes—an eighth of an inch wider—to boost airflow and, consequently, horsepower. This simple enhancement, Forde noted, proved to be transformative for the race.
He remarked,
“A pretty minimal update to those engines created a maximum difference in the Phoenix race. You saw lots of passing, where sometimes passing was very challenging in previous iterations of the Phoenix Raceway Cup race. So we’re very happy. Thumbs up from the NASCAR side.”
Tire Issues Stemmed from Track Debris, Not Equipment Failure
Goodyear continued supplying the same tire model as in November’s Phoenix race, which had seen several tire failures. Although the Sunday event featured a clean first stage, multiple tire-related incidents occurred during the second stage. NASCAR’s investigation revealed these problems were caused by debris—specifically brake rotor fragments scattered on the track—rather than any fault with the tires themselves.
Forde reassured,
“Beyond that, it seemed like everyone minded their P’s and Q’s, and it didn’t become the story that it was during last Phoenix weekend. Which is great because the higher horsepower was going to be a challenge on the tires.”
Additional Racing Developments and NASCAR Discussions
During the 45th edition of the Hauler Talk podcast, Forde and Amanda Ellis, NASCAR’s senior director of racing communications, addressed several other important topics, including the possibility of a Chase waiver for driver Alex Bowman, the unusual situation involving a driver with a lug nut secured by another team’s pit crew, a statistical breakdown of Ryan Blaney’s strong performance, and insights from the recent IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader weekend.
Looking Ahead: The Significance of Phoenix’s 2026 Race Updates
The horsepower increase at Phoenix Raceway has re-energized the Cup series by encouraging greater tire wear and more aggressive on-track moves, which contribute to much-needed variability and excitement. NASCAR’s ability to fine-tune technical aspects while maintaining safety ensures fans and teams witness dynamic racing action. As teams adapt to these changes, future events will likely showcase evolving strategies and competition intensity, further enhancing the sport’s appeal.
